The Asian champions Pakistan Under-19 cricket team faces England in their opening match of the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 today. The match takes place at Takashinga Sports Club in Harare. Pakistan enters this tournament with high confidence after winning the U19 Asia Cup last month.
Pakistan's Dominant Asia Cup Victory
Pakistan secured the U19 Asia Cup title with a commanding 191-run victory over India in the final. This win gives them strong momentum as they start their World Cup journey. The team carries the weight of being reigning Asian champions into this global competition.
Group C Battle Begins
Pakistan finds itself in Group C alongside England, Scotland, and Zimbabwe. Sixteen teams participate in this tournament, divided into four groups of four teams each. The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six stage.
The tournament structure requires teams to perform consistently. Teams that finish in the top three of their initial groups qualify for two Super Six groups. From there, the top two teams from each Super Six group progress to the semifinals. The winners of those semifinal matches then compete in the championship final.
Defending Champions Australia
Australia U19 currently holds the Youth World Champion title. They defeated India in the 2024 final to claim the championship. All participating teams now aim to dethrone the Australian squad in this edition of the tournament.
Team Lineups for Today's Match
England U19 Squad: Ben Dawkins, Joseph Moores, Ben Mayes, Thomas Rew (wicketkeeper/captain), Caleb Falconer, Farhan Ahmed, Ali Farooq, Alex French, Manny Lumsden, Luke Hands, Ralphie Albert, Isaac Mohammed, James Minto, Alex Green, Sebastian Morgan.
Pakistan U19 Squad: Sameer Minhas, Mohammad Shayan (wicketkeeper), Usman Khan, Ahmed Hussain, Farhan Yousaf (captain), Huzaifa Ahsan, Hamza Zahoor, Ali Raza, Mohammad Sayyam, Niqab Shafiq, Abdul Subhan, Umar Zaib, Momin Qamar, Ali Hassan Baloch, Daniyal Ali Khan.
Other Tournament Action
In other tournament news, India recorded a victory over the United States in their opening match. The match experienced some interruptions due to rain, but India managed to secure the win despite losing wickets in clusters after the break.
Medium pacer Henil Patel delivered an outstanding performance for India, taking five wickets in the match. His display of skill and maturity impressed observers. Abhigyan Kundu also contributed significantly with a well-timed six that helped secure the victory.
India's young batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who many consider a rising star, scored only two runs before departing. His early dismissal disappointed spectators who had gathered to watch his performance.
The Under-19 World Cup continues to showcase emerging cricket talent from around the globe. Fans can follow live updates as Pakistan begins their campaign against England in what promises to be an exciting contest between two strong cricketing nations.
